Kyle Shanahan took his turn at the microphone Friday, challenging comments made by Donovan McNabb's agent.
Not that Shanahan provided clarity to the ongoing saga. If anything, he might have made the situation more confusing.
The Washington Redskins' offensive coordinator believed Fletcher Smith's comments were "disturbing," so he spoke "face-to-face, man-to-man" with McNabb on Thursday night at the team's facility. Shanahan said the 12-year veteran quarterback told him the claims made by his agent were untrue.
Smith said in a statement Thursday afternoon that the "tension" between the quarterback and Washington's coaches was the result of McNabb making suggestions for improving the team's offense.
"When I talked to Donovan, he said he didn't say any of that," Shanahan said Friday during his weekly television interview on Comcast SportsNet Washington. "I'm like, 'Well, your agent did, which to me is you.' He said he didn't agree with any of that, that those words didn't come out of his mouth and that he didn't tell his agent that stuff. So all I can go off of is what Donovan tells me.
"We've never had a confrontation all year. We've never had an argument," Shanahan added. "Everything's been good, so it is really a different situation to hear that stuff, but when I cleared it up with him, I've got to go with the reality of what two guys between us talk about.
"I asked (McNabb) if he did have any problems that he wanted to talk to me about," Shanahan continued. "He said, 'No, not at all. We've always been good.' So when I heard that from him, talking man-to-man, face-to-face, that's what I've gotta go with. So it is a little weird to hear the other stuff."
Smith said in his initial statement that Kyle Shanahan, and his father, Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan, have made comments that go beyond disrespectful and were "unprecedented for a six-time Pro Bowl quarterback such as Donovan."
The agent stood by his comments Friday.
"Donovan and I talk constantly and have done so with more frequency during this season. We are absolutely on the same page," Smith said in a statement. "I stand by my statement and will reserve any further comments until after I have had a chance to speak, directly, with coach Shanahan."
Among the claims made by Smith on Thursday were that after the Redskins' Week 14 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Kyle Shanahan said McNabb would never play for him again.
Shanahan said there was "zero" truth to that.
"I was with Donovan at the end of that Tampa Bay game," he said. "You can talk to Donovan about that. I mean, we were together the whole time. So, I'd like to know where he (Smith) got that quote."
Smith also alleged that Shanahan ignored McNabb's suggestions when it came to making changes in the offense, specifically more use of screen passes, adding that "ironically, Kyle decided to employ Donovan's suggestions after he unceremoniously benched him on Sunday." Rex Grossman started for the Redskins last Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys.
"That quote was entertaining," said Shanahan. "Asking Donovan about that, he nor I remember that conversation. To hear that we had a different offense for Rex is a joke. We ran six screens versus Dallas. We have ran five or six screens in every game since our bye week. I really have no idea what he's talking about, and it's completely inaccurate."
McNabb declined to comment Friday when approached by reporters, other than to confirm that he did speak with Kyle Shanahan.
McNabb was benched only once in 11 years with the Philadelphia Eagles, but he already has doubled that total with the Redskins in less than one season. Mike Shanahan yanked McNabb in favor of Grossman in the final two minutes of an Oct. 31 against the Detroit Lions, then offered several strange excuses for the decision.
The coach declined to comment on the matter Friday, other than to say he had yet to speak with Smith, "but I will talk to him."
Kyle Shanahan also addressed Smith's contention that "Donovan came into camp in the best shape of his career, having dropped 10 pounds in the offseason."
Said Shanahan: "I think it was hard with him early on in the year. I don't think he was ever able to practice full speed. He had some injury problems, and, I think, he missed most of preseason because he did get hurt, and then when he came back, he either had a quad or a hamstring (injury), so he hasn't been able to practice at the speed that we like and we expect from a quarterback all year."
Notes:Redskins DE Kedric Golston confirmed to The Washington Post that he is out for the remainder of the season because of a groin injury. "It's a downer, man," Golston said. ... LB Brian Orakpo (hamstring, groin) was ruled out for Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, so the Redskins signed Rob Jackson off the practice squad and expect him to start, according to the team's official website. "Everyone knows this game is just about opportunities, and if you don't take advantage of your opportunities, you may not get another one," Jackson said. ... SS Reed Doughty (concussion) also was ruled out for Sunday. ... KR Brandon Banks (knee) and FS Kareem Moore (knee) will be game-time decisions, and LB Lorenzo Alexander (groin) is expected to play. ... SS LaRon Landry underwent a non-surgical procedure -- shockwave therapy -- to increase blood flow to his Achilles' tendon Wednesday. Landry, who played and started in the first nine games of the season and was placed on season-ending injured reserve earlier this month, is expected to be in a boot for four weeks, with an expected recovery time of 12 weeks.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
